Text: White House Chronicles Past Iraqi Obstruction of Unconditional Inspections
Following is a timeline released by the White House
September 17 chronicling Iraq's failure to comply with United Nations
resolutions regarding inspections since the 1991 Gulf War:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2002
Timeline: Saddam Hussein's Deception and Defiance
We've heard "unconditional" before
Last week, the President of the United States focused the world's attention
on Iraq's continued defiance of UN resolutions. Saddam Hussein's regime claimed
yesterday that Iraq would comply unconditionally. While this new statement is
evidence that world pressure can force the Iraqi regime to respond, it is also a
return to form. Time after time, "without conditions" has meant
deception, delay, and disregard for the United Nations.
"I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Government of the
Republic of Iraq to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to
Iraq without conditions." -- Naji Sabri, Iraq's minister of foreign
affairs, September 16, 2002 (emphasis added)
The following timeline details the Iraqi regime's repeated pattern of
accepting inspections "without conditions" and then demanding
conditions, often at gunpoint. This information is derived from an October 1998
UNSCOM report and excerpted from http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/uns_chro.htm
.
Date
Action
April 3, 1991
U.N. Security Council Resolution 687 (1991), Section C, declares that Iraq shall
accept unconditionally, under international supervision, the "destruction,
removal or rendering harmless" of its weapons of mass destruction and
ballistic missiles with a range over 150 kilometers (emphasis added). One week
later, Iraq accepts Resolution 687. Its provisions were reiterated and
reinforced in subsequent action by the United Nations in June and August of
1991.
May 1991
Iraq accepts the privileges and immunities of the Special Commission (UNSCOM)
and its personnel. These guarantees include the right of "unrestricted
freedom of entry and exit without delay or hindrance of its personnel, property,
supplies, equipment ... (emphasis added)."
June 1991
Iraqi personnel fire warning shots to prevent the inspectors from approaching
the vehicles.
September 1991
Iraqi officials confiscate documents from the inspectors. The inspectors refuse
to yield a second set of documents. In response, Iraq refuses to allow the team
to leave the site with these documents. A four-day standoff ensues, but Iraq
permits the team to leave with the documents after a statement from the Security
Council threatens enforcement actions.
October 11, 1991
The Security Council adopts Resolution 715, which approves joint UNSCOM and IAEA
plans for ongoing monitoring and verification. UNSCOM's plan establishes that
Iraq shall "accept unconditionally the inspectors and all other personnel
designated by the Special Commission" (emphasis added).
October 1991
Iraq states that it considers the Ongoing Monitoring and Verification Plans
adopted by Resolution 715 to be unlawful and states that it is not ready to
comply with Resolution 715.
February 1992
Iraq refuses to comply with an UNSCOM/IAEA decision to destroy certain
facilities used in proscribed programs and related items.
April 1992
Iraq calls for a halt to UNSCOM's aerial surveillance flights, stating that the
aircraft and its pilot might be endangered. The President of the Security
Council issues a statement reaffirming UNSCOM's right to conduct such flights.
Iraq says that it does not intend to carry out any military action aimed at
UNSCOM's aerial flights.
July 6-29, 1992
Iraq refuses an inspection team access to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture.
UNSCOM said it had reliable information that the site contained archives related
to proscribed activities. Inspectors gained access only after members of the
Council threatened enforcement action.
January 1993
Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM to use its own aircraft to fly into Iraq.
June-July 1993
Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM inspectors to install remote-controlled monitoring
cameras at two missile engine test stands.
November 26, 1993
Iraq accepts Resolution 715 and the plans for ongoing monitoring and
verification.
October 15, 1994
The Security Council adopts Resolution 949, which demands that Iraq
"cooperate fully" with UNSCOM and that it withdraw all military units
deployed to southern Iraq to their original positions (emphasis added). Iraq
withdraws its forces and resumes working with UNSCOM.
March 1996
Iraqi security forces refuse UNSCOM teams access to five sites designated for
inspection. The teams enter the sites after delays of up to 17 hours.
March 19, 1996
The Security Council issues a presidential statement expressing its concern over
Iraq's behavior, which it terms "a clear violation of Iraq's obligations
under relevant resolutions." The council also demands that Iraq allow
UNSCOM teams immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites
designated for inspection (emphasis added).
March 27, 1996
Security Council Resolution 1051 approves the export/import monitoring mechanism
for Iraq and demands that Iraq meet unconditionally all its obligations under
the mechanism and cooperate fully with the Special Commission and the
director-general of the IAEA (emphasis added).
June 1996
Iraq denies UNSCOM teams access to sites under investigation for their
involvement in the "concealment mechanism" for proscribed items.
June 12, 1997
The Security Council adopts Resolution 1060, which terms Iraq's actions a clear
violation of the provisions of the council's earlier resolutions. It also
demands that Iraq grant "immediate and unrestricted access" to all
sites designated for inspection by UNSCOM (emphasis added).
June 13, 1996
Despite the adoption of Resolution 1060, Iraq again denies access to another
inspection team.
November 1996
Iraq blocks UNSCOM from removing remnants of missile engines for in-depth
analysis outside Iraq.
June 1997
Iraqi escorts on board an UNSCOM helicopter try to physically prevent the UNSCOM
pilot from flying the helicopter in the direction of its intended destination.
June 21, 1997
Iraq again blocks UNSCOM teams from entering certain sites for inspection.
June 21, 1997
The Security Council adopts Resolution 1115, which condemns Iraq's actions and
demands that Iraq allow UNSCOM's team immediate, unconditional and unrestricted
access to any sites for inspection and officials for interviews (emphasis
added).
September 13, 1997
An Iraqi officer attacks an UNSCOM inspector on board an UNSCOM helicopter while
the inspector was attempting to take photographs of unauthorized movement of
Iraqi vehicles inside a site designated for inspection.
September 17, 1997
While seeking access to a site declared by Iraq to be "sensitive,"
UNSCOM inspectors witness and videotape Iraqi guards moving files, burning
documents, and dumping ash-filled waste cans into a nearby river.
November 12, 1997
The Security Council adopts Resolution 1137, condemning Iraq for continually
violating its obligations, including its decision to seek to impose conditions
on cooperation with UNSCOM (emphasis added). The resolution also imposes a
travel restriction on Iraqi officials who are responsible for or participated in
instances of non-compliance.
November 3, 1997
Iraq demands that US citizens working for UNSCOM leave Iraq immediately.
December 22, 1997
The Security Council issues a statement calling upon the government of Iraq to
cooperate fully with the commission and stresses that failure by Iraq to provide
immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to any site is an unacceptable
and clear violation of Security Council resolutions (emphasis added).
February 20-23, 1998
Iraq signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations on February 23,
1998. Iraq pledges to accept all relevant Security Council resolutions, to
cooperate fully with UNSCOM and the IAEA, and to grant to UNSCOM and the IAEA
"immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access" for their
inspections (emphasis added).
August 5, 1998
The Revolutionary Command Council and the Ba'ath Party Command decide to stop
cooperating with UNSCOM and the IAEA until the Security Council agrees to lift
the oil embargo as a first step towards ending sanctions.
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